Rough Day

Dear Khoa and Mai An,

Today was another rough day with both of you refusing to sleep; Big Brother wanted to play and read while Little Sister was way too overtired (as you were yesterday too). it's unfortunate but mommy has to force little sister to sleep in the afternoon (you have to adjust to your brother's sleep hours). I guess the other good thing is that Big Brother has been taking longer naps (close to three hours) so both of you are sleeping in the afternoon for a long time while Mommy gets a little break. Luckily, Little Sister was super easy at nighttime today (6:20 vs. the 8:41 pm bedtime yesterday). The last week has been rough at night; you always wake up screaming as if you are in pain (maybe from teething?) constantly. I honestly lost count at how many times you woke up. Because yesterday was such a crazy day, Mommy slept in with Little Sister all the way until the morning (11 hours).

I have been really stressed out lately while taking care the two of you. I keep praying that you both would cooperate and sleep as much as you are supposed to, hopefully one day you both will be ideal and do just as that. The other new thing is that Little Sister has discovered her thumb and keeps sucking on it constantly. I don't know how to stop it - hopefully you will stop and take the pacifier instead. You are such an angel when you sleep fully. You have mastered flipping to one side now and sit up temporarily (a few seconds and then you would come crashing down). Sweetest moment is when you would look at me in the eye when I am breastfeeding you and the most peaceful/ trustworthy eyes looking back at me. I feel terrible that I must leave you lying there (sometimes without even seeing me) most of the time when I have to attend to your brother. I never did that when I was taking care of your brother.      

Big Brother had fun playing on the artificial grass in the park nearby our complex this morning and ate well at lunch. However, nap didn't take place until 2:37, which is why you are up late tonight. The sweetest moment today was when you were out with Daddy and you saw me upon coming back and you ran to me and hugged me and screamed out for Mommy. You are very sweet, though very rebellious at this age. You still do everything the opposite way that I ask you to. You are showing a lot of jealousy (hitting your sister five times during the time when I was trying to put you down for nap). You would always want me to hold you instead of little sister, too. You are still quite shy around strangers, but such a "big/happy/glee boy" around familiar people. You are very smart at connecting ideas and thoughts (intentionally saying the wrong thing and correcting it yourself saying that mommy got it all wrong). For example, you would switch mommy and daddy's name, as well as yours and little sister's name. 

I think that's it for tonight. Mommy is pretty tired. Praying for a better day tomorrow :)

Love, Mommy